The BRBA view is that recycling is an important contributor to business sustainability, delivering tangible business benefits and representing a commonsense and strategic response to the need for business to be more resource efficient.

The following external influences will profoundly impact future business success:

• The environment - there is an overwhelming body of evidence to support the fact that natural systems are at breaking point

• The increasing scarcity and cost of resources (and waste disposal options) - this drives the need for a sustainable, resource efficient business model

• Stakeholder demands - business is expected to take broader responsibility; concern themselves with the community and the environment, not just business & profit; and to operate in a way which minimises environmental and social impacts

It is no longer sustainable - in terms of resources, cost or company reputation - for business to operate in a way which is wasteful of resources, and requires high volumes of waste to be sent to landfill. Business, our largest and most influential institution, has both an undeniable responsibility and a strategic necessity to demonstrate leadership in the pursuit of a sustainable business model.

In short, the environment in which business now operates provides a compelling business case for the pursuit of important sustainability initiatives such as "buy recycled".

The business drivers for "buy recycled" are clear:

• A common sense and strategic response to environmental & stakeholder concerns
• Maintaining resource competitiveness in an environment of scarce and costly resources, and scarce and costly waste disposal options
• Creating competitive advantage through action which enhances company reputation
• Self management as a strongly preferred alternative to imposed regulation
• To improve business results - "buy recycled" delivers benefits in sales and market share, cost reduction, process efficiency, and risk management